Episodes

This was a great invitation to speak at the Mentorship Connection with Camosun College Hospitality Management class, we chat about everything from my start in the industry to where the industry is heading. I was grateful and honestly flattered to be asked to speak to the younger generation of the hospitality industry. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospit...

Fortunate enough to be on good pal and peer, Dean Serneels show One Drink with. We chat about cocktails, my career and advice for young bartenders starting out and moving through the ranks of the industry. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define th...

Being the 250th episode, it had to be a stalwart in the industry and Jim Meehan is just that. I have looked up to and revered him, not for his cocktails, but his innate ability to create amazing cultures, have epic side hustles and always be striving for a better industry. This is a really good conversation about his start and how it lead him to becoming an award winning mentor, bartender and author. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, dist...

I have a lot of people ask me to give my opinion on this, and I am in a very unique position between mentoring people at a staff level and consulting and strategizing with owners and operators on their establishments. I need to focus and see both sides as an equal equation, I took a number of times to record this because every time I did, I found more information to add. I am hoping that I got it nailed this time around, the minimum wage is still well below the designated living wage for Victori...

James Grant is one of the most talented bartenders that I have ever been lucky enough to work with, I know how hard he worked for this win and he completely deserves it. I have had him on the show 3 times now and this was an a momentous look into the drive to continue to compete and make the National Champ. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for d...

With the recent lockdowns in indoor dining in BC, I did a IGTV recently that broached the problems with it also with a bit of perspective; I go further about the behaviors of some restaurants in the province and how it has become difficult to have a singular voice from our industry. This is a tough industry to be in, but we are resilient and will come out on the other side. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficion...

Great chat with absolute powerhouse, Evelyn Chick of EC Projects, we chat about "pivots" and how the pandemic isn't always doom and gloom and can have a silver lining to it all. We chat her growth and evolution over the last 5 years to be a multiple company entrepreneur, for the young industry out there, must listen. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospita...

I have been exploring TiKTok more for brand case studies and find that being in that macro space outside my usual social media channels has opened my eyes to the true nature of trolls, bullies and negativity. I have posted some screen shots of these encounters to mixed reviews on my socials but I want everyone to understand how to show empathy, and confront the people spewing negativity. Not something that I have to do regularly but I know it cripples many people to put out content at all. Shar...

Great chat with CPG cult brand, DRNXMYTH owners Lawrence and Brandon; I really inspiring story of over 6 years of R&D, highs and lows and then bringing a truly unique packaged cocktail. If you want to learn about entrepreneurship, serendipity and how pushing your goals, this is a great one. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he d...

After a couple of consults over the last week or so, this made me really want to highlight something that is fundamental in the success of your business and life in general. Here are some pointers on how to accomplish it. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are help...

This was a truly unique and insightful conversation of venture capital in the hospitality sphere, which is interestingly new in the economics of the business of the industry. CJ and James were great guests showing that when you take a new perspective to the industry, that you can create and grow truly unique aspects. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospita...

This is something I have been thinking about a lot, as a mentor and a mentee; we look for role models to help us evolve into better versions of ourselves, but what if someone you consider a mentor, never wanted to be one or doesn't evolve with you. Does that mean that you can outgrow your mentors or your inspirations in the industry? Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, an...

This is a very different episode, looking at the macro of people in the industry and how to leverage your staff, your managers and most importantly you and how you lead the team and it's culture. Michael is fascinating to speak to and get a big picture look at human resources through the lens of everything from SME's to big business. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, an...

A throwback episode to not letting other people pigeon hole you and that their perceptions of you can't be your own. You must own your own perception and self worth and not allow other people's opinions shadow that. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to...

If you are or ever inspired to become a hospitality entrepreneur, than this episode with April Wachtel, CEO and Founder of Cheeky Cocktails is for you. Her tenacity, her resilience and her push are inspiring and help you to formulate and launch your own brand. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions...

Had an impromptu live stream with the amazing and lovely Jennifer English a few weeks ago and we chat about Covid, young industry people and how to leverage the "new normal". Grateful to be on the show and chat about my work during this interesting time for the industry. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advic...

Chat to local talent and international star, Kaitlyn Stewart about her road to becoming the World's Best Bartender at World Class in 2017. I think that her story may surprise you, I have known Kait for a number of years and I loved finding out the inner workings of World Class and what drives her in this time of Covid. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospi...

Been a run on interviews this month, this was a great one with On the Back Bar Podcast with Christopher Menning as we chat hospitality entrepreneurship, projects during covid and what's for the future. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories that are helping to define the cr...

This was an epic, impromptu and fantastic chat with award winning author, writer and entrepreneur, Jackie Summers. We had a few technical difficulties but pushed through and was a great conversation about the process, the journey and getting what you want out of life. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, ...

This was a great interview with Wil Slickers of the Slick Talk Podcast, it's not often that I get interviewed but when I connect with like minded people, it blows up. Some great value out of this for anyone in the hospitality space. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades. Now, he delves into the advice, opinions, and provocative stories th...

This was a great chat about the industry, chasing your passion and mental health with Sother Teague of Amor y Amargo in NYC. We get to chatting about everything from the pandemic to mental health and why opening an amaro and bitters focused bar a decade ago was one of the best decisions he ever made. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for decades....

Recently, Skip the Dishes added new fees to customers; I have been preaching the need to change the power dynamics in the relationships between third party delivery services, restaurants and the customer. With delivery becoming a huge revenue stream for restaurants during this time, it's time to shift the control back to the restaurants. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed...

Had the opportunity to chat to another fantastic friend and hospitality entrepreneur, Kevin Demers in Montreal. He is the man behind award winning bars like The Coldroom, El Pequeno and Parliament along with much much more. Great interview about the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, business ownership and the rules through Covid in Montreal. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, br...

This is a great throwback to an archive episode on you owning and controlling your own happiness, no one else does. I think going into 2021, this is an important reminder to a lot of people; don't be at a crap job, or bad relationship, it's the chance to move forward after a horrible 2020 for some people. Share a dram with the hospitality industry’s top global talents: bartenders, venue owners, distillers and industry aficionados. Shawn Soole has lived, breathed, and imbibed hospitality for dec...